“Will you marry me?”

As soon as I entered the room, Izolla abruptly asked.

‘How did the rumor reach the envoy?’

At this point, it seems necessary to crack down on the frivolous banter of palace residents at the palace level.

“No, it’s just a baseless rumor.”

“Is that so? I thought you wouldn’t.”

As I denied decisively, Izolla nodded as if she had expected it.

“I’ve seen that person, Gabeis Parlone, once. He didn’t give off a good vibe. I felt a dirty feeling that he might later face trial for a sex scandal.”

Izolla frowned as if she didn’t want to recall that face. Even though I hadn’t read the original work, I admired her for accurately predicting Gabeis Parlone’s future. It seemed that saying she reads people well was not a lie.

“It’s a relief that you’re not marrying that guy with a dirty look. Maybe you’ve grown fond of him in the meantime.”

“Are you planning to return to Etraro?”

“Now that the royal engagement is over, I have to go back. If I stay here any longer, King Hilik might order me to marry immediately, even tomorrow.”

Izolla muttered, shaking her head. It was quite surprising that the king had been bringing up the marriage with the 1st prince every time he found an opportunity these days. Even I, standing beside her, was annoyed, but Izolla seemed to find it quite distasteful.

‘But Izolla, you’re destined to marry the 1st prince. You will return to the Hilik Kingdom soon. That’s your predetermined fate.’

I looked at her, who would eventually marry the 1st prince, with a sense of pity. She had no idea about her impending fate, and Izolla remained cheerful with a bright face.

“By the way, would you like to come to Etraro with me?”

“What? Why would I…”

“I keep seeing the ominous smile of the 2nd prince when I think about going back like this.”

…Sometimes I think she might not be normal either. I stared at Izolla, who was rubbing her cheek, with a puzzled expression. She seemed disgusted, but who knows, maybe she and the 1st prince might make a good match.

“Don’t you think it’s better for you to come with me rather than pretending to be loyal to the 2nd prince here?”

Going to Etraro with her was obviously much better, as she said. However, to stay away from her, who would soon marry the 1st prince, was more preferable if I wanted to deviate from the original work.

‘Besides, I can’t go even if I want to.’

Where would I go when my heart was in her hands? As long as my heart was in Floria’s hands, she held the leash around my neck.

“Even if you don’t work in the castle, it’ll be much better.”

Izolla’s gaze was genuinely hopeful for me to go with her. It was at that moment when I was about to reluctantly utter my refusal. A maid announced the visit of the 1st prince.

“Ha… Why did he come again?”
Izolla, who had subtly leaned towards me, expressed her annoyance with disgust. Indeed, I also fully understood her feelings.

“The shining sword and guardian of the kingdom, His Excellency the 1st Prince! Nice to meet you again.”

Izolla’s appearance with proper etiquette was flawless. However, the accent in the word ‘again’ revealed a sarcastic tone, questioning why he had to show up with that unpleasant face once more.

Despite the blatant provocation, the 1st Prince, without a hint of concern, walked through the room without any particular response. His behavior, with a sword-ready attitude just by making eye contact, was a stark contrast to his personality trait of easily drawing his sword.

‘Certainly, the 1st Prince intends to marry Izolla.’

That’s why he keeps coming despite seeing Izolla’s displeasure each time. After all, if one side pushed, the two of them must have gotten married.

I distanced myself from the table where the 1st Prince and Izolla sat facing each other. Although I wanted to leave altogether, I found myself held back by Izolla’s desperate gaze, preventing me from leaving her alone.

“So, what brings you here today?”

There was no answer from the 1st Prince to Izolla’s question.

“…Looks like he won’t say a word again today.”

Even from a distance, Izolla’s lifted mouth corner was visible. Whether intentionally or not, the 1st Prince, crossing his arms, buried his back deep into the sofa. It was quite irritating to see such a leisurely posture from an uninvited guest.

“If it’s going to be like this, why do you keep coming?”

An impatient Izolla asked directly.

‘My thoughts exactly.’

I nodded silently in agreement with her inside my mind.

In fact, for someone as straightforward as her, she had endured a lot.

Although the 1st Prince occasionally visited Izolla, he never spoke a single word each time. For Izolla, who liked to talk, sitting across from someone who never opened their lips must have been torment.

Moreover, not only did the 1st Prince remain silent, but he didn’t even take off his mask, so Izolla, and of course, I, had yet to see his face.

Surely, if he intended to marry, he wouldn’t keep coming like this. It couldn’t be interpreted as anything other than an unpleasant move.

‘No wonder she’s disgusted.’